Cancer is a disease that mostly affects the cells. It is often characterized by out of control cell growth. There are different types of cancer that are grouped by the cells they affect. It is a terminal disease that has no cure but can be controlled and prevented. If cancer is recognized early enough, then the diseases can be controlled from its initial stages before it spreads to the other body parts. Cancer as a disease is very expensive to treat not forgetting it is a terminal illness. Cancer as a disease will affect the body by forming lumps or tumours when the damaged cells divide wildly. The only exception in this case is leukaemia because it hinders the normal function of blood by abnormal cell divisions that are taking place within the bloodstream. Tumours in the body will interfere with the nervous, circulatory and digestive systems. Additionally, they tend to release hormones that will affect the normal functioning of the body. Whenever a tumour has successfully spread to the other body parts and grows, as it invades and destroys the other healthy tissues, medically we say it has metastasized and the process is called metastasis. The outcome of this is a serious condition that may be difficult to treat. Oncologists are the people who specialize in the study, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer.
Cancer is among the leading cause of deaths for individuals in the world between the age of 50 and 80.On record there are about 4.2 million persons who get affected from tumour and only 15% of them survive. 50% of all recently identified cancers in men account for four cancers. These include colorectal cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer while 50% account for breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer in female. Although the common cancer diagnosed in women is breast cancer, 28% of the deaths arising from cancer are from lung cancer.
Since cancer is as a result of cells that do not die and grow uncontrollably, then the causes of cancer are many and different. Normal cells follow an orderly path of growth, division and eventually their death. When the process of apoptosis breaks down then cancer will start to form (Mader 100). Cancer cells normally do not experience programmatic death instead they will continue to grow and divide with time leading to a mass of abnormal cells growing out of control. There are three main causes of cancer namely; smoking, chronic infections and dietary imbalances. This is to say, lack of taking fruits, vegetables, calcium and fiber, excess calories and fats in the body. Chronic infections such as hepatitis B and C viruses, schistosomiasis among others will increase the chances of one contracting cancer (Stoner 93). Occupational exposure causes an average of 2% of the current human cancer infections mostly caused by asbestos in smokers and industrial and synthetic pollution. When the body is exposed to radiation like x-rays and gamma rays are other causes of cancer. Additionally, tobacco, arsenic, asbestos, compounds from car exhaust fumes will also cause cancer.
Another cause of cancer is the DNA type or the genes. Cells do experience uncontrolled growth in cases where there are mutations to DNA that damage the genes that are involved in cell division which cause cancer (Stoner 156). Another cause of cancer is inherited genes from a family member or members. There is a possibility that a person might be born with certain genetic mutation that increases the chances of one developing cancer in his/her life in future.
There are several ways of cancer treatment, they include; chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, biologic therapy and immunotherapy. When a person is diagnosed with cancer, he/she is provided with the treatment options. Chemotherapy refers to the use of cancer prescription to kill tumours or cancerous cells. A patient may receive one or more cancer medications. Radiation therapy is a treatment that aims at delivering a prescribed amount of radiation to object cancer cells in order to kill shrink or control the cancer cells. Surgery is another form of treatment where the tumour is removed. At times, the surgery may be widespread and may involve the removal of adjacent lymph nodes and tissue. The cancer specialist also known as oncologist recommends the best treatment plan depending on factors like good health, age and how far it has spread.
In conclusion, it is important to note that cancer is a terminal disease. However, it can be treated if diagnosed in its early stages. The treatment of cancer is expensive and thus it is important to prevent it.
Works cited
Mader, Sylvia S. Human Biology. Boston: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2007.
Stoner, Gary D. .Cancer statistics. New York: Springer, 2010
Kigui, C. (2010). Cancer treatment. New York, USA: Flat World Knowledge, L.L.C.
